Lifting device for power washers



March 22, 1932'. A. G. MAcDoNELL 1,850,960

LIFTING DEVICE FOR POWER wAsHERs Filed-Dec. '4, 1929 Z5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENToR //om /Vamana BY 7h46 ATTOR N EY lVlarch'l 22, 1932.

A. G. MACDONELL 1,850,960

LIFTING DEVICE FOR POWER WASHERS Filed Dec. 4, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2|NvENToR BY//a/r Macda/VM 7m MIL ATTORN EY March 22, 1932. A. G.MACDONELI. l .1,850,960

LIFTING DEVICE FOR POWER WASHERS Filed Dec; 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l/3 l l o *V5 t INVENTOR BY ///afr 6. Maw/0W# Patented Mar'. 22, 19,32v

UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE LIFTING DEVICE FOR POWER WASHEBSApplication `tiled December 4, 1929. Serial No. 411,543.

The present invention relates to a new and simple lifting device forpower washers.

i The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby theunloading of the washer will be greatly facilitated.

Another object is to bring the washer into the unloading positionwithout the use of manual power, savino' time thereby.

A further object 1s to provide a device 1H whereby the unloading iseffected without undue tear and entanglmg of the wash.

Another object is to provide a washer, where the ossibility of anaccident is eliminated, by s utting off the flow of steam andV hot waterautomatically for the time of unloading. l

A still further object is to provide aV power washer, which is simple inconstruction, easy to manipulate and economical in operation. With theabove objects in view, which will fully appear as the invention isdescribed, it being understood, that many changes may be made in thesize, shape and proportion of the various parts within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention, the same consisting of thecombination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafterdescribed, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaceompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a washer, partially in section, I

Fig. 2 is an end view of same, Fig. 3 is a detail of the automaticvalve, Fig. 4 isa front elevation in the unloading position,

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified arrangement of the sameprinciple,

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of another modification and Fig. 7 is theend view of this modification. Referring first to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 thenumeral 1 indicates the outer stationary shell, 45 havin its two endheads 2 and 3 so arranged, that t ey form suitable guide blocks 4 and 5allowing the shell with all attached to it, to slide up or down in theguides 6, which also form part of the frame. The center of 5 guide block4 is bored at 4a to receive vthe hollo'w stub shaft 7 of the rotatingdrum von one end and solid shaft 7 a on the other end. One of theseshafts or both will have a gear 9 of proper dimensions keyed to it, toreceive the driving power through pinion 10,'which in4 turn is driven bymotor 11 with the required speed reducing gears 12 and 13, all mountedon a shelf 14 which is supported on the ends on the guide blocks 5 andmoving in unison up or down with the shell 1. On both ends of themachine there is a water, air or lsteam operated cylinder 15 and 16 ineach of which a pistonv 17 is operating. The piston rod 18 terminates ina bearing 19 on one end and 20 on other end, in which 'the shafts 7 and7a are freely revolving. The bearing 19 is extended to receive a pipe 21which fits into a bore 22 in the wall of cylinder 15. Pipes 23, 24, 25,26 are provided to introduce steam, hot water, cold water, liquid soap,bluing and bleaching solutions into the drum 8 through the bore 22, pipe2,1 and the hollow shaft 7. Stutlinof boxes 27 and 28 are to eliminateleakage atzbearing 19 and piston rod 18. The two cylinders 15 and 16 areprovided with lugs 29 to be attached to the upper part of the frame 30carrying the washer.

`The washer drum 8 and shell 1 are built lthe conventional way, myinvention relating lof which is well known to the trade.

The method of operation will be as follows: The wash is placed into thedrum 8 while the machine is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The washwater and cleansing solutions introduced through pipes 23, 24, 25, 26 ascalled y for, the quantityv being regulated by valves not shown in thedrawing. The drum 8 is rotated by the motor the customary way andperiod, after which the drum 8 is stopped and the wash water eliminatedthrough the valve 33 at the bottom of shell 1. After this being repeatedas required andthe wash `is cleaned, it is ready for removal.

The lifting cylinders 15 and 16 are connected to a supply of steam wateror air under pressure through pipes 34, with necessary valves forcontrol,notshown,whichwhen 5 opened, will act under the plunger orpiston of 1 being cylinders 15 and 16, forcing said pistons 17 upwardand lifting the whole washer into the position shown in Fig. 4, theheight of lift being sufficient to permit the hand trucks 35 ushed underthe Washer to receive the wash trlirough the opening 36. Naturally forboth loading and unloading the doors of the inner drum are brought inposition to coincide with the doors of the outer shell.

The top part of both cylinders 15 and 16 are bored through 37, for thefree movement of the air, when the plunger moves up or downshown in Fig.3. While the unit as a whole moves upward the pipe 21 slides intocylindrical bore 22, the lower part of which being ground so as to closeall the orifices of the feed pipes automatically, eliminating any chanceof turning the steam or hot water on, while the washer is being emptied.

A modification is shown in Fig. 5 in which the lifting cylinders aremounted on the low er part of the washer, the washing unit being pushedupward by the action of the lifting cylinders 15 and 16. Theintroduction of the wash Water, detergents and bleaching solutions, alsothe automatic valve are the same as previously described. Fig. 5 showsthe machine in the operating position, with the motor shaft broken awayand with dotted lines indicating the Washer unit in the upliftedposition, which for clarity is not shown full The modification shown inFigs. 6 and 7 accomplishes the same-purpose, but a difierent method isused for lifting. The outer stationary shell 1 the end heads 2 and 3,guide blocks 4 and 5, shafts 7 and 7 a, driving gears 9, 10, 12, 13 andmotor 11 are arranged as previously described. v

The underside of guide blocks 4 at each end of the machine forms a seatfor screw 38, a pair of bevel gears 39 and 40 suitably mounted; gear 39forming a nut for screw 38 which is equipped with a key-way on its fulllength which with a key in support 41 prevent its turning. It is obviousthat when shaft 42 is turned and bevel gear 40 is rotating, the screws38will move up or down depending on the direction the shaft 42 is turned.Provision 43 is made in the floor for lscrew 38 to enter when thewashing unit is in the lowest operating position. The bevel gears onboth ends of the machine are operated simultaneously and may be eitherhand or power driven. The automatic valve is not shown in Fig. 6 andFig. 7, but it may be applied in a similar way as shown in Fig. 3. Theintroduction and removal of the wash is the same as previouslydescribed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. In a washing machine, an upright frame having spaced uprights, guideblocks movable in said uprights, means rigidly connecting said guideblocks and including an outer shell having end walls to which said guideblocks are attached, said shell being provided with doors at its lowerside, bearings in said Walls, a rotatable inner drum having a shaftjournaled in said bearings and projecting therethrough, operatingmechanism for rotating said drum and movable with said guide blocks,means at the ends of said shell for lifting said outer shell, inner drumand operating mechanism, comprising fluid pressure motors each having acylinder and plunger therein, said plungers being connected to the endsof said shaft, and means for conducting fluid to said cylinder tooperate said plungers.

2. In a. Washing machine, an upright frame having spaced uprights, guideblocks movable in said uprights, means rigidly connecting said guideblocks and including an outer shell having end walls to which said guideblocks are attached, said shell being provided with doors at its lowerside, bearings in said walls, a rotatable inner drum having a shaftjournaled in said bearings and projecting therethrough, operatingmechanism for rotating said drum and movable with said guide blocks,means at the ends of said shell for lifting said outer shell, inner drumand operating mechanism, comprising a screw and a cooperating nutextending between said frame and each of said guide blocks and rotatablewith respect to each other.

3. The combination with an upright frame comprising substantiallyvertical guideways, an outer shell having end walls, guide blocksrigidly secured to said end walls and slidable in said guidewaysvertically, said shell being also provided with a door in its bottomside and with alined bearings, a rotatable inner drum having a shaftjournaled in said bearings and extending in said bearlngs and into saidguide blocks, an operating mechanism for rotating said frame, means atthe ends of said shell and acting upon said guide blocks to elevate said'de blocks in said guideways at both ends ogg-:laid shell alike andsimultaneously, thereby elevating said outer shell and said inner drumas a unit.

4. In a washing machine, the combination of an upright frame providingspaced substantially vertical guideways, an outer shell having guideblocks rigidly secured to the ends thereof and slidable in saidguideways vertically, said shell being provided with a door in itsbottom side and with alined bearings", an inner drum, means to rotatablysupport said inner drum within said shell on said bearings and includinga hollow shaft, extending through its said bearing and on and into aguide block, and means communicating with the outer end of said hollowshaft and through said shaft communicating with the interior of saidshell to supply detergent liquids thereto. l

5. In a washing machine, the combination of an upright frame providingspaced substantially vertical guideways, an outer shell having guideblocks rigidly secured to the ends thereof and slidable in saidguidevvays vertically, said shell being provided With a door in itsbottom side and with alined bearings, an inner drum, means to rotatablysupport said inner drum Within said shell on said bearings and includinga hollow shaft, extending through its said bearing and on and into aguide block, and means communicating with the outer end of said hollowshaft and through said shaft communicating with the interior of saidshell to supply detergent liquids thereto and operative to automaticallycut off the supply of all-liquids thereto when and so long as said partsare in their elevated position.

6. In a Washing machine, the combinationv of an upright frame providingspaced substantially vertical guideways, an outer shell, guide blocksrigidly secured to the ends of said shell andv slidable vertically insaid guideways, said shell being also provided with a door at its bottomside and With alined y bearings, a rotatable inner drum having a shaftprojecting from each end thereof and journaled in said hearings andpro'ecting through said bearings into said guide locks, operating meansfor rotating said drum, and means mounted in said frame at the ends ofsaid shell and acting upon said guide blocks to raise and lower saidguide blocks in said guideways and With them said shell and i11- nerdrum.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

ALLAN G. MACDONELL.

